I wrote a little while back about the fact that I currently have a need to knit. Its getting colder here, and yesterday I wore my first woollen jumper (sweater) of the season. I have a jumper that will need to retire this year, as the elbow is wearing through. Its of just a strange enough colour that I won’t be able to match it to make repairs. So to me, that means I need a replacement jumper, and perhaps an additional new one, for the new season… I refuse to buy acrylic jumpers as I just don’t find them warm enough, and for women’s clothing, that’s all you can buy in the shops, unless you’re willing to pay through the nose.
So knitting a jumper myself, it is. 🙂
I was having a browse on the Bendigo Woollen Mills website (the home of quality, well-priced yarns except their crepe ones, which I think are simply awful as they just say “school jumper” to me!), and found two yarns that I quite like: Rustic in Delta colour, and Melody in Forest. I’d actually really prefer the Melody to come in the Delta colour, but Bendigo has never been particularly good on colours. I like the Melody for its lovely smoothness. I’ve never seen this particular yarn in the flesh, but I have seen similar ones in the shops, and they are simply gorgeous.
Then I needed to find a pattern to use, so off to Ravelry it was. I began searching through the patterns and almost immediately found and fell in love with this. Its called Baby Cables and Big Ones Too, by Suvi Simola (I think you’ll need to be a member of Ravelry to view that last link). The pattern is available for purchase through Ravelry. I bought one almost immediately, and now just have to choose which yarn to use with it. Either will work, but part of me likes the blue, and part of me just can’t pass up the smoothness of the Melody yarn. My husband thinks I should purchase both, and whichever one I don’t use for the “replacement” jumper can be used for my “new season” jumper.
He’s a smart man. 😉 (He also thinks that if I get a new jumper, then he’s entitled to one too. I think that’s fair.)
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
I certainly wouldn’t argue with his conclusion!
🙂
You are all set to knit – but have you considered Etsy as a source of ‘warm things’?
I have a pair of felted pink and purple slippers from Lithuania. Didn’t cost that much at all – especially considering the felting, the dying, and a double sole.
It’s good being able to buy from ‘people selling their home craft’, and good being able to buy warm items from the cold countries in Europe. Then you know you will truly be warm!
(If you don’t know Etsy – well, you could get lost there for hours and hours. So many wonderful hand made and vintage things. I picked up a faded red brocade cushion with a 9″ multicoloured fringe, made by a child early last century for practically nothing. It’s a LOT cheaper than Ebay and a lot friendlier, since it’s normal people you are dealing with – they aren’t as ‘commercial’.
They will often make items to spec, as well.
No, I’ve never considered Etsy as a source of warm things! What an idea! Must consider than in future, thanks. My aunt visited one of the Stans a few years ago where they make felt as a craft. She bought some amazingly high quality felted articles there. As for getting lost in Etsy for hours, yes, that is my fear…
I just got a pair of custom fingerless gloves knitted for me. 🙂
I choose the particular artisan (there are millions that do fingerless gloves on Etsy!!) because she adds crochet lace. I’ll always go for the Pwetty things!
I asked for just one line of lace at the finger/knuckle ends (so I don’t embroider myself to my embroidery) and 2″ of crochet lace at the arm end. And for the arms to be extra-long – extend half way up the arm. I absolutely HAVE to keep my hands and wrists warm – inflamed tendons.
Made of 80% wool and 20% polyamid. $34 + $8 postage. Bit on the pricey side I think, (you can get just regular fingerless gloves in wool for much less there) but they are custom made to my sizing and specifications.
And it’s about time to get my Lithuanian felted slippers out! Cold!